 Contributing Writers Heather Feeney ▪ Phil Roberts President Philip L. Dubois Director, University Public Relations Jay Fromkin Manager, Publications Nancy Nichols Thomas Buchanan John Mack Carter Tom Davidson William Gern Rick Miller Susan Penner David Perry Steve Prosinski Dave Willms
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 Though it’s only the first week of June as I write this issue’s Viewpoint, summer has arrived in Laramie well before the official calendar date. This morning, with the temperatures hovering in the mid 80s, the heat and roar of roadwork machinery took me back to the summers of my college years, when I worked for the county highway department, laying blacktop. Today, though, provided a memory in reverse, as contractors began taking up the asphalt roadway to begin Phase I of the Prexy’s Pasture Renovation Project. By August 24, Phase I will be substantially complete. The roadway and parking areas around Prexy’s will be replaced by attractive 20-foot-wide colored concrete walkways and 35 percent more landscaping than the pasture has contained in modern times. New lighting will make Prexy’s even safer during evening hours. Those who’ve followed the project since November know that the plan has not been without controversy in the areas of landscaping and disability access. Steps have been taken to minimize the impact on the existing landscape while eventually increasing the number of trees on Prexy’s by some 175 trees. And, in response to public comment, the university has modified the plan for enhanced public access. Twenty-eight new handicap parking spaces have been designated in the vicinity of Prexy’s. Once Phase I construction is completed, the university also will accommodate passenger drop-off and pick-up at Prexy’s for events at the Arts and Sciences auditorium on weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays. While the Prexy’s renovation project is a visual symbol of this university’s progress toward distinction, a less-visible, more significant advance was the approval in May by the Board of Trustees of Academic Plan II, UW’s blueprint for enhancing scholarly activity between the years 2004-2009. The plan, which previously had been approved by a unanimous vote of the Faculty Senate, represents an attempt to balance the aspirations, goals and concerns expressed within 87 program and department plans and seven college plans with overall university interests. As Vice President for Academic Affairs Tom Buchanan has noted, “Upon completion of APII, the University of Wyoming will be a better institution, better in academics, in research, and in service. But, even then, we will not rest on our accomplishments. We will simply go on to Academic Plan III.” The full text of APII is on the academic affairs Web site (View it here) This summer is also a season of departure. After five years of publishing the work of UW alumni, faculty, and student poets on UWyo’s back page, we are now capturing university life through the camera lense in a new feature called Out Takes. Finally, I want to acknowledge the retirement of UW Publications Service Manager Dana Dreinhofer after 26 years of service to the university. During the last five of those years, Dana’s was one of the final set of eyes to review UWyo copy before the magazine went to press. A fine writer and editor, Dana was a stickler for proper grammar and punctuation. We can only hope that, for this issue, we have learned well from her example. Jay N. Fromkin |
